When you are the Only Adult in the Room

Your adult partner wants you to treat them like an adult. If they are a Narcissist, this becomes increasingly difficult when their egocentric antics belie their maturity.

You come to the relationship with self- awareness and the ability to recognize the subjective nature of your own perceptions. In other words, you realize you could be wrong about any given thing, and if you were to be proven wrong, the delivery of this news would not be the end of your world. Surely you would not have a tantrum!

Not so with the Narcissist. They are right regardless of any evidence to the contrary. In fact, if you happen to deliver this evidence, you become enemy number one.

The egocentric Narcissist lacks empathy and has an inability to recognize the needs of others. Opinions that differ from the narcissist become fodder for arguments and verbal lashings. They must, at all costs, believe that others perceive them as their perception of an ideal self. Puffery and stomping ensue when challenged.

Underneath the Narc’s mask lies a broken and wounded self. The narcissist’s self- esteem is a flat tire. They are constantly pumping it up through defenses, gaslighting and lies.

You are witness to the Narcissist who wants to be treated like an equal adult but acts like the third grader on the…